Praia – Full text of speech by His Excellency João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, on Monday at the Special Session of the National Assembly of Cape Verde.
Your Excellency Austelino Tavares Correia, Speaker of the National Assembly of Cape Verde
Distinguished Members of Parliament
Honourable Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour for me to accept the invitation to address a few words in this Great House, where the power of Cape Verdean citizenship is enshrined.
On behalf of the Angolan people, I express my gratitude for this fraternal gesture that illustrates the historic ties of friendship and solidarity that exist between our two Countries, taking the opportunity to convey, through you, the cordial greetings from the Angolan people to brotherly people of Cape Verde.
We have a deep understanding of the important role that the Members of Parliament play, as guarantors of the interests of the Cape Verdean people and of democracy in Cape Verde.
Your Excellency Mr. Speaker.
Distinguished Members of Parliament.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Cape Verdean nation is a true and unequivocal example of democracy in Africa, which is being consolidated every day with the contribution of the citizens of this country, represented by the Honourable Members of Parliament here present.
The democratic achievements attained by Cape Verde are also the result of the commitment and patriotism of the courageous sons of this homeland, of which I would like to highlight Amílcar Cabral, who spared no effort or sacrifice of any kind to achieve the great dream of freedom for the Cape Verdean people and to build the great ideals that have guided your nation on the path to becoming a respected state on our continent and in the world.
Your Excellency Mr. Speaker.
Honourable Members of Parliament
Ladies and Gentlemen
After decades of war, Angola has been living for 20 years in a situation of effective, lasting and irreversible peace in an environment of perfect national reconciliation.
In August of this year, Angola will hold its fifth general elections in an atmosphere of perfect harmony and freedom, so that Angolans can exercise their constitutional right to vote.
The country has managed well the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, and successfully implemented the programme negotiated with the International Monetary Fund and, as a result, we have our economy growing, especially the private sector of the economy which feels comfortable with the business environment created.
In the public sector, we continue to make important investments in the production and distribution of energy and water, as well as in the construction of important health and education infrastructures, accompanied by the admission, through public tender, of thousands of medical and teaching staff.
The Integrated Plan for Intervention in Municipalities (PIIM) has breathed new life into municipalities, bringing public services closer to the citizens.
Your Excellency Mr. Speaker.
Distinguished Members of Parliament.
Ladies and Gentlemen
As I said during His Excellency José Maria Pereira Neves's visit to Luanda, we wish to establish a true strategic partnership with Cape Verde, strengthening ties of friendship and cooperation in important areas of national life in both our countries, especially public administration, education, agriculture, transport, tourism and services, as well as at parliamentary level.
Indeed, our two countries have the resources and enormous human potential to explore much further the areas of cooperation where we are stronger.
I am convinced that we can achieve the goals we have set ourselves, bringing our countries closer together with the imminent reopening of the Luanda/Praia/Luanda air route, so as to facilitate the movement of our citizens, trade and services, the exchange of experiences and knowledge for the promotion and achievement of investments and businesses that boost development.
Let us make the most of the entry into force of the CPLP Mobility Agreement, which will facilitate the movement of citizens within our community of Portuguese-speaking sister-countries.
Your Excellency Mr. Speaker.
Distinguished Members of Parliament.
Ladies and Gentlemen
We are concerned about the security situation in Africa in recent times with the spread of terrorist actions in the Sahel region countries since the destabilisation of Libya, as well as the persistence of the same phenomenon for years on end in the Horn of Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and more recently in Mozambique.
The removal from power by force of arms of governments legitimised by the ballot box in democratic elections, often encouraged and financed by outside interests, should also merit concerted action by African states at regional and continental level.
The continent must not deceive itself that the solutions will come from Europe, Asia or America, the solutions must be found and implemented by us, the children of Africa.
Some initiatives are being developed to reverse this trend and to find the necessary mechanisms for its resolution.
In this perspective, I would like to highlight the initiative taken by Angola to promote a Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Regime Changes in Africa, which will take place in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea on 28-29 May this year, with the purpose of reflecting on this issue in our continent, as well as to seek the best solutions to discourage such practices.
We must also place at the centre of our attention the issues relating to climate change that have caused damage to various regions of our planet, with very serious consequences on the lives of the people most directly affected by the phenomenon.
The Republic of Angola is associated with all the efforts made by the International Community to reverse this dynamic and has sought internally to respect the commitments made by us and by all the participants at COP-26, held in the city of Glasgow last year.
I conclude by thanking once again for the opportunity given to me to address such illustrious figures of Cape Verde's political life.
Thank you very much.
